Peer Care Coordinator

Peer Care Coordinator – East

Peer Care Coordinators are part of our Addiction Response Team and utilize their lived experience to walk side by side with individuals seeking recovery from Substance Use. Peer Care Coordinators will assist individuals in meeting their goals toward their recovery by working in collaboration with Advocates for Recovery and other local providers and community agencies through education, outreach, connectivity to Treatment and other recovery services. We believe that the ability for a Peer Care Coordinator to use their lived experience to assist others with their recovery plan to be crucial to the success of our work.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

● Minimum 2 years in active personal recovery

● Strong written and verbal communication skills

● Strong decision making skills

● Experience with persons who have an addiction, experience with opioid use disorder is especially preferred

● Experience partnering with local and regional health and human services resources

● Cultural Competence especially as concerns substance related stigma and poverty (Medicaid, Medicare, uninsured populations)

● Honesty with one’s own experience and ability to empathize with others addiction and recovery process

● Ability to maintain non-reactive and calm when engaging with individuals who may or may not be intoxicated, belligerent or have a history of behavior health issues

● Ability to adjust priorities quickly as circumstances and needs dictate for member success

● Ability to Build relationships with those with a substance use disorder including but not limited to those who are justice involved and those with complex medical and/or mental health issues.

● Strict Confidentiality

● Basic Computer Skills preferred for navigation through multiple Electronic Medical Record Systems and data collection tools as determined by organizational needs

● Willingness to partner with local and regional health and human service resources

● Ability to work independently and within a team

● Reliable transportation

● Valid Driver License

Education or Formal Training

· HS Graduate or GED required

Working Environment Physical Activities

● Primary Job Location is Sterling with up to 80% travel to other parts of the region

● Contact with the public by phone and in person

● Sitting

● Standing

● Walking

● Climbing up and down stairs

● Bending and reaching

● Must be fully vaccinated against COVID as a condition of employment

● Annual Influenza vaccine

● Lifting up to 30 pounds

Job Responsibilities:

● Act as member of the Northern Colorado Health Alliance and the Addiction Response Team to help design and implement community events and participate in community workgroup meetings.

○ Participate in family support programs. These programs will address families and friends of people with SUD to increasing knowledge of opioid/naloxone, assist on how to move loved ones towards treatment, and advocating for their own health amidst their loved one’s recovery.

○ Help plan and implement community events that will raise awareness Addiction, Treatment, Recovery, and Overdose (i.e. Opioid Awareness Day, Harm Reduction Symposium)

○ Attend a variety of community workgroup meetings and help connect community members to supportive services.

■ Responsibilities include presenting and sharing at meetings and events, engagement, and outreach to persons in the community for involvement and input in grant strategies, and monthly social networking responsibilities to recruit event attendees and promote training and events.

● Act as an ambassador to people currently experiencing substance use disorder by connecting them to the CO-SLAW network and other relative supportive/harm reduction measures.

● Completion of a 40-credit hour course as a Peer Recovery Coach.

○ This will provide the experience necessary to support the traumas of other community members, navigating other’s recovery while also living out the Peer Specialist’s own to

■ Advocate for People struggling with Substance Use or in recovery

■ Share Resources and assist in building strength based skills

■ Help to build community and relationships

■ Mentor and assist in setting goals

■ Help to remove barriers and obstacles to recovery

■ Learn the roles of a Recovery Coach – Motivator/Cheerleader, Ally/Confidante, Truth Teller, Role Model/Mentor, Problem Solver, Advocate, Community Organizer, Lifestyle Consultant, Friend/Companion.

● Enrollment of members using appropriate assessment tools and completion of GPRA Survey at enrollment and then at 6 month follow up

● Support persons enrolled in MAT to continue engagement with both medical and behavioral health treatment plans

● Participate in telephone contacts, office/hospital visits, and other means of connecting with members to reach identified goals

● Attend member appointments with providers and community resources as needed

● Assist members in scheduling appointments, follow up care, referrals, medication refills, etc. to coordinate for the members Care Plan.

● Enter all documentation, contacts, and assessments into required databases

● Regular Case Review with Supervisor

● Transport members to and from MAT appointments in NCHA company vehicle across the region

Other Duties as Assigned:

● Provide assistance as designated by the Supervisor to support the overall goals of NCHA

● Provide input into development of policies and procedures and be accountable for adhering to them

● Support of the mission and vision of NCHA

● Provide input into development of policies and procedures

● Compliance with NCHA programs overall

● Meeting and training attendance

● Participation in ongoing performance improvement activities